Rail fastener



Nov. l, 1948. R. E, MERRELL RAIL FASTENER Filed Aug.A 1S, 1946 Ill/lll/ Patented Nov. 16, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE RAIL FASTENER Robert E. Merrell, Spartanburg, S. C.

Application August 16, 1946, Serial No. 691,047

1 claim. 1

This invention relates to a new and improved means for securing a railroad rail in place on a railroad tie,

lThe primary object of this invention is to provide an improved means for securing a railroad rail to a railroad tie in a manner that elim inates the possibility of the rail working loose from its position with continuous use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a railroad rail securing means which may be installed on a conventional railroad track with a minimum of effort and application.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a securing device of the character described which is of simple and inexpensive design and which is economical in application and use.

Still further objects and improvements of this invention will readily appear to those skilled in the art when examined in the light of the ac companying drawings in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of the securing device within partial horizontal section.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings A designates a conventionally used railroad tie.

Disposed horizontally on the upper surface of the tie A is the flat base B of a railroad chair which vertically supports a conventional railroad rail C transverse the Width and at the longitudinal center of the chair.

The chair base B is secured at its outer extremities on each side of rail C to the tie A by two spikes I and 2 driven through the chair base B downward into the tie A.

Holding the base 3 of rail C securely to the chair and the tie are three spikes 4, 5 and 6 which comprise a point shaft I with a projected shoulder 8 on one side thereof and a head 9 peaned over on the side opposite said shoulder to form an abutting surface I0 on its under side which overlaps the upper surface of rail base 3 holding securely to the chair base B and tie A when said spikes are driven downwardly through base B and into tie A.

On the inner track side of rail C are two buttress supports Il and l2 which bear against the web of rail C and which are secured longitudinally on the fore and after sides of chair base B.

These buttresses are provided with apertures I3 and I4 on a plane with the upper surface of base B and in a position opposite one another so that a tapered wedge D may be inserted from (Cl. 23S-294) 2 one side of chair base B through aperture I3 across the surface of B to overlie the shoulder 8 of spike '4 and extend onward through aperture I'l to a tightly wedged position thus holding spike 4 by its shoulder f8 in a tightly downjward securing position,

The Wedges D, have their lower surfaces formed with parallel grooves 20 that receive the tapered upper edges I9 of the shoulders 8 as the wedges are driven into place, thereby further locking the wedges D against dsplacement.

On the opposite side of rail C` are two blocks I5 and I 0 positioned similarly to buttresses II and I2 which house apertures I'I and I8 through which are inserted a second tapered wedge E which overlies shoulder `il of spikes 5 and 0 thus holding them down tightly securing rail C to base B and tie A.

Hence it can be seen that as long as the tapered wedges D and E are tightly inserted in their provided apertures and thereby lie overtop of the spike shoulders '8 that it is Virtually impossible for spikes 4, 5 and 6 to work loose from their rail securing position.

Having explained and described this invention what I claim is:

A rail fastener comprising a railroad rail chair adapted to receive and support the base of a railroad rail, buttress supports having openings formed therein, forming a part of the rail chair, said rail chair having spike openings, spikes securing a railroad rail to the chair, enlargements on the rear edges of the spikes, the upper edges being tapered, the outer edges of which lie ush with the upper surface of the plate, a wedge having an inclined edge and having recesses in the under surface thereof, adapted to be driven through the openings in the buttress supports in contact with the enlargements of the spikes, the inclined edge of the wedge bearing against one of the respective walls of each opening, moving the spikes towards the rail, and the tapered portions of the enlargements projecting above the upper surface of the tie plate to lockingly engage with the recesses in the under surface of the wedge member, securing the wedge against displacement.

ROBERT E. MERRELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,039,031 Courson Sept. 17, 1912 1,126,506 Liebmann Jan. 26, 1915 1,605,129 Meade Nov. 2, 1926 2,265,745 Roscoe Dec. 9, 1941 

